Marion museum repair may require new bids

MARION — The contract to rebuild the Natural History Museum section of the Elizabeth Taber Library may need to go back out to bid after the winning contractor omitted the cost for restoring the carpet, Town Administrator Paul Dawson said this week.

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By MICHAEL J. DeCICCO

southcoasttoday.com

By MICHAEL J. DeCICCO

Posted Dec. 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By MICHAEL J. DeCICCO

Posted Dec. 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

MARION — The contract to rebuild the Natural History Museum section of the Elizabeth Taber Library may need to go back out to bid after the winning contractor omitted the cost for restoring the carpet, Town Administrator Paul Dawson said this week.

"We can't force him to add to his costs after signing the contract," Dawson said. "But he said he will work on adding it in."

Dawson said he suspects, however, that the result will be sending the contract out to rebid soon.

In late November, selectmen approved a $34,000 bid from Dimitrius C Construction of Canton for the roof and museum repair.

A 50-by-50-foot section of the roof fell the morning of July 23, covering historical artifacts in dust, plaster and insulation. Town officials have said the building's age and a 1982 renovation were to blame. The Elizabeth Taber Library on Spring Street that houses the museum on its second floor was built in 1872.

In other action, selectmen were asked to consider two budget-related changes.

The Taber Library Board of Trustees requested the town take over the payroll function of its operations.

Seventy-five percent of the library's budget is funded by the town and the remainder is paid through library trustee fundraising. Dawson and trustees chair Asha Wallace said the library wants the town to take over payroll accounting, rather than continuing to use the third party the trustees now employ.

Dawson said no formal agreement exists between the town and the trustees regarding cost sharing and that should change.

Wallace said it is not an emergency situation but that the trustees would like selectmen to begin considering the idea. "If it's not an emergency," Selectman Jonathan Henry said, "then we can take our time and look at the big picture."

Also, Selectman Jody Dickerson and Marion resident Norm Hill suggested selectmen consider hiring a facility manager to coordinate proper maintenance of all town buildings. Selectmen said it may be possible to have a proposal ready for the spring Town Meeting.